SPARKLING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does sparkling mean? 

• SPARKLING (noun)
  The noun SPARKLING has 1 sense:

1. a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash

  Familiarity information: SPARKLING used as a noun is very rare.

• SPARKLING (adjective)
  The adjective SPARKLING has 2 senses:

1. shining with brilliant points of light like stars

2. used of wines and waters; charged naturally or artificially with carbon dioxide

  Familiarity information: SPARKLING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPARKLING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

scintillation; sparkling; twinkle

Hypernyms ("sparkling" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Derivation:

sparkle (reflect brightly)

• SPARKLING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Shining with brilliant points of light like stars

Context example:

sparkling eyes

Similar:

starry (abounding with or resembling stars)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Used of wines and waters; charged naturally or artificially with carbon dioxide

Synonyms:

effervescent; sparkling

Context example:

sparkling water

Antonym:

still (not sparkling)

 Context examples 

The wonderful news is that Venus will receive a sparkling beam from surprise-a-minute Uranus on January 15—this day should be a standout for you.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

"Did he indeed?" cried Marianne with sparkling eyes, "and with elegance, with spirit?"

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Alleyne gazed across at it with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes—for this, he knew, must be the home of his fathers.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Still, his eyes were sharp and sparkling, and he soon showed himself to be a clever little fellow, who always knew well what he was about.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I seek not gaiety nor mirth, not the bright voluptuousness of much sunshine and sparkling waters which please the young and gay.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But it was in reference to the tone in which he had spoken of “that sort of people”, that Miss Dartle, whose sparkling eyes had been watchful of us, now broke in again.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Sparkling points of light spluttered and shot past me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His lady greeted him with some of her sparkling vivacity.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she granted his request, and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went with him to the set, may be easily imagined.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Martin's eyes were sparkling, but he kept control of himself.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)